When we want to get to know someone, to move past just being an acquaintance, there are a number of aspects in the relationship that would need to happen in order for it to deepen.
For example, over time you’d want to discover their favourite pastimes, the kind of movies and music they enjoy, their sense of humor, some of their experiences that have made the person they are. It’s about how they respond in various situations and the kinds of issues they battle with. As all these things come together …… slowly you start to learn about their personality …... their character, what makes them tick, what they like and don’t like.
It’s like this in Our Quest for God too. If we want to get to know Him more intimately, not just about Him, we will take time to think about what He likes, and what He doesn’t like. But have you ever considered that there are things He actually hates? :-
While there are incidental, temporary things we say we ‘hate’, there are also other things that can be of dire consequence to God and to others.
Sample Discussion Questions - Do you have some examples of the incidental, temporary things we say we hate?
- What are some of the more serious things?
- What are some of the outcomes, or consequences when people do these hateful things?
A Quest for God is about coming to a deeper awareness of who He is ... what He loves, and the things we can do to please Him. God loves us unconditionally, in that his love towards us is not based on our goodness or performance. In fact, he loved us even when we were his enemies (Rom.5:8). Now that we are his children, nothing can separate us from his love (Rom.8:37-39). So, God’s love towards us is constant – it doesn’t go up or down. It’s something we can rely on from start to finish.
As John McCarthur writes,
“if you love someone, you hate whatever it is that would harm that person. If you're a parent, you hate anything that would harm your children. If you're married, you hate anything that would defile or injure your spouse. If you love good, then you hate evil. If you love God, you hate Satan. If you love unity, you hate discord”.Sample Discussion Questions - What could someone’s view of God be like if they only focused on what He loves ..or .. what He hates?
- From reading the Bible, what are some of the things you know that God hates?
Proverbs 6 verses 16-19 “there are six things the Lord hates – no, seven things he detests: [Pride, Lies, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, Feet that race to do evil, one who gives false testimony, gossip]
- Why are these things in particular grouped together?
As much as we try to do the things God loves and avoid the things He hates, sometimes we mess up. Read Galatians 5:16-18 and discuss the work of the Holy Spirit in helping us in our Quest for God.
Personal Reflection Is there any area you need to surrender to God for His help as a result of the discussion?
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